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ITER: The Giant Fusion Reactor: Bringing a Sun to Earth
This book provides for the first time an insider’s view into ITER, the biggest fusion reactor in the world, which is currently being constructed in southern France.
Aimed at bringing the “energy of the stars” to earth, ITER is funded by the major economic powers (China, the EU, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the US). Often presented as a “nuclear but green” energy source, fusion could play an important role in the future electricity supply. But as delays accumulate and budgets continue to grow, ITER is currently a star partially obscured by clouds.
Will ITER save humanity by providing a clean, safe and limitless source of energy, or is it merely a political showcase of cutting-edge technology? Is ITER merely an ambitious research project and partly a PR initiative driven by some politically connected scientists? In any case, ITER has already helped spur on rival projects in the US, Canada and the UK. This book offers readers a behind-the-scenes look at this controversial project, which France snatched from Japan, and introduces them to a world of superlatives: with the largest magnets in the world, the biggest cryogenic plant and tremendous computing power, ITER is one of the most fascinating, and most international, scientific and technological endeavours of our time.
Aimed at bringing the “energy of the stars” to earth, ITER is funded by the major economic powers (China, the EU, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the US). Often presented as a “nuclear but green” energy source, fusion could play an important role in the future electricity supply. But as delays accumulate and budgets continue to grow, ITER is currently a star partially obscured by clouds.
Will ITER save humanity by providing a clean, safe and limitless source of energy, or is it merely a political showcase of cutting-edge technology? Is ITER merely an ambitious research project and partly a PR initiative driven by some politically connected scientists? In any case, ITER has already helped spur on rival projects in the US, Canada and the UK. This book offers readers a behind-the-scenes look at this controversial project, which France snatched from Japan, and introduces them to a world of superlatives: with the largest magnets in the world, the biggest cryogenic plant and tremendous computing power, ITER is one of the most fascinating, and most international, scientific and technological endeavours of our time.
341 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 29, 2022
This book was a disappointment. Repetitive, long-winded and despite having a clear structure (laid out in the contents page), the actual content in each chapter jumps about in a strange narrative. In its argument of why we should pursue fusion over fission, there is a gross oversimplification of fission technology (what are we referring to here? Light water reactors? MSRs? Fast breeders? Thermal breeders? Uranium? Thorium?)
This book didn't shift or change my current thoughts towards fusion power at all. In fact, it makes it even more evident that the multi-billion dollar investment into ITER was fuelled by politics. I still question the feasibility of controlling a 150 million deg C reactor, of the transportation of millions of tons of equipment around the world, of sufficient tritium supplies, and of ITER ever reaching the target gain factor (Q) of 10 given that it's yet to breakeven at 1. This book didn't answer any of my questions.
Nonetheless, it makes valid arguments for the reasons to pursue fusion power. Our energy consumption has doubled since the 70s, and the world desperately need to decarbonise the electric grid (which currently comprises 80% fossil fuels) to prevent catastrophic climate change. Only through nuclear we can do this, but I'm not so sure that fusion would have a bigger role than fission.
This book didn't shift or change my current thoughts towards fusion power at all. In fact, it makes it even more evident that the multi-billion dollar investment into ITER was fuelled by politics. I still question the feasibility of controlling a 150 million deg C reactor, of the transportation of millions of tons of equipment around the world, of sufficient tritium supplies, and of ITER ever reaching the target gain factor (Q) of 10 given that it's yet to breakeven at 1. This book didn't answer any of my questions.
Nonetheless, it makes valid arguments for the reasons to pursue fusion power. Our energy consumption has doubled since the 70s, and the world desperately need to decarbonise the electric grid (which currently comprises 80% fossil fuels) to prevent catastrophic climate change. Only through nuclear we can do this, but I'm not so sure that fusion would have a bigger role than fission.
May 5, 2021
I was searching something more technical, but this book gives a good entry point for those reactors. I had previous knowledge about those reactors and I didn't learn any new technical thing about fusion itself (good for refreshing the knowledge anyways), but the book it's full of small historic, politic and construction stories worth to know. It has me realize the colosal dimension of this project.
On the other hand, the chapter about disproving the arguments against ITER project is, in my opinion, a complete bullshit. The reasons given to counter that arguments are more proper of a dirty TV show than ideas based on scientific arguments.
For example, disproving a person against ITER by saying that person is not relevant "real" scientific doesn't make their arguments magically wrong. It should be refutated by logic and scientific methods as far as possible, any other disproving is not worth to be in a scientific disclosure book. This book would be better without this particular chapter that is a waste of time to read.
Also, after reading the book it's more difficult for me to continue in the believe that fusion reactor will be a solution for energy problems, at least in our lifetimes. Despite that, I still think is worth to develop, for the future generations.
On the other hand, the chapter about disproving the arguments against ITER project is, in my opinion, a complete bullshit. The reasons given to counter that arguments are more proper of a dirty TV show than ideas based on scientific arguments.
For example, disproving a person against ITER by saying that person is not relevant "real" scientific doesn't make their arguments magically wrong. It should be refutated by logic and scientific methods as far as possible, any other disproving is not worth to be in a scientific disclosure book. This book would be better without this particular chapter that is a waste of time to read.
Also, after reading the book it's more difficult for me to continue in the believe that fusion reactor will be a solution for energy problems, at least in our lifetimes. Despite that, I still think is worth to develop, for the future generations.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews